On this week September 15-21

September 15, 1962: Four Seasons enter five week number 1 run with 'Sherry'

It reportedly took Bob Gaudio just 15 minutes to cobble together but 'Sherry' was a hit the Four Seasons would remember for a lifetime as the song that rocketed them to number 1 and kept them kings of the charts for five weeks. With its soaring falsetto vocals from the inimitable Frankie Valli and that driving beat, the godfathers of Italian-American soul soon had the whole nation screeching out 'Sherry, Sherry baby'. But it apparently could have all been very different as the song was almost named 'Terry', with other suggestions also including 'Jackie' and 'Peri'. In the end though, they decided on Sherry, named after Cheri Spector, the daughter of their producer Bob Crewe's best friend, DJ Jack Spector. 'Walk Like a Man', 'Big Girls Don't Cry', 'Rag Doll' and 'December 1963 (Oh What a Night)' soon followed in Sherry's number 1 hitting footsteps.

September 20, 1967: The QE2 takes to the waves

Out from John Brown's Shipyard in Clydebank, Glasgow, issued one of the greatest ships our seas have seen as the Queen Elizabeth 2 was launched. From this day until November 2008 when she retired to Dubai, the ship exuded luxury and class with every 6 million of the miles she covered across her transatlantic journey. Noted as the fastest merchant ship in operation, capable of speeds of up to 34 knots, the ship was more than just a force across the seas but also an icon of maritime beauty with her lavish 1960s decor wowing decades of passengers.

September 16, 1968: Post office introduces two-tier postal service

As the Post Office welcomed in customers to make use of the new two-tier system, the public reception was mixed. Whilst queues formed as customers waited to buy the new 5d 1st class stamps, others complained that the new system made letter sending ever more complicated. The aim of the change was to bring an extra £25m into the Post Office as well as helping out posties with their load. At the end of day one on September 16, 25% of all letters had been posted by 1st class, well short of the Post Office's 40-45% target, suggesting suspicion had overwhelmed people's curiosity to try this new scheme that still runs to this day.

September 19, 1970: Diana Ross hits number 1 with 'Ain't no Mountain High Enough'

It's a song we've been blasting out in the shower for generations but it was on this week in 1970 that Diana Ross took 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough' to the top of the charts. The song was written by Motown husband and wife songwriting duo Ashford & Simpson, reportedly inspired by Ashford's feelings when he first moved to New York, determined not to be beaten by this overwhelming city. Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell had originally recorded the song in 1967 where it reached number 19 in the US, but it wasn't until the dazzling Diana stepped in that this song hit the top spot and earned the queen of glamour her very first number 1 apart from The Supremes.